Expansion card installation module and server

ABSTRACT

Provided is an expansion card installation module including an expansion-card bracket, an operating element, a stopper, and a driving component. The operating element is pivoted on the expansion-card bracket. The stopper is slidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket and is located at a stop position or a non-stop position. The stopper at the stop position is adapted to stop an expansion card in the expansion-card bracket, and the stopper at the non-stop position releases the expansion card, such that the expansion card is allowed to be removed from the expansion-card bracket. The driving component is movably disposed on the expansion-card bracket. The operating element is adapted to push against the stopper to move the stopper from the stop position to the non-stop position, and the driving component is adapted to position the stopper at the non-stop position. A server is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of China application serialno. 202210380398.0, filed on Apr. 12, 2022. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an installation module and a server,particularly to an expansion card installation module and a serverincluding the expansion card installation module.

Description of Related Art

With the development of technology, the demand for the performance ofservers is also growing, which leads to the emergence of theexpansion-card brackets that accommodate additional expansion cards.Take the conventional graphics processing unit (GPU) expansion card asan example. The body of a conventional GPU expansion card does not havea locking structure and usually weighs more than 1 kg. If theexpansion-card bracket is not structurally stable, the expansion cardmay fail due to poor contact. In addition, the expansion card is usuallyinstalled by the client itself. For the convenience of the users, it isnecessary to reduce the tools needed during the installation anddisassembly, and simplify the installation and removal processes ofexpansion cards. Therefore, it is a critical issue in the art to reducethe tools for installation and disassembly of expansion cards andimprove the convenience thereof.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides an expansion card installation module and aserver capable of installing and removing the expansion card withoutusing additional tools, which saves time and improves the conveniencethereof.

The expansion card installation module of the disclosure is adapted toaccommodate an expansion card, and the expansion card installationmodule includes an expansion-card bracket, an operating element, astopper, and a driving component. The operating element is pivoted onthe expansion-card bracket. The stopper is slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket and is located at a stop position or a non-stopposition. The stopper at the stop position stops the expansion card inthe expansion-card bracket, and the stopper at the non-stop positionreleases the expansion card, such that the expansion card is allowed tobe removed from the expansion-card bracket. The driving component ismovably disposed on the expansion-card bracket. The operating element isadapted to push the stopper to move the stopper from the stop positionto the non-stop position, and the driving component is adapted toposition the stopper at the non-stop position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the operating element has anabutting portion, and the stopper has a protruding post, and theabutting portion is adapted to push against the protruding post to movethe stopper from the stop position to the non-stop position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a guide rail disposed on the expansion-cardbracket. The guide rail is adapted to guide the expansion card to moveinto the expansion-card bracket along a moving path.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, part of the driving component isdisposed in the guide rail and located on the moving path of theexpansion card, and is adapted to be pushed by the expansion card.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving component includes alocking member and a linkage member, the locking member is slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket, and the linkage member ispivoted on the expansion-card bracket. One end of the linkage member isdisposed in the guide rail, and the other end of the linkage member isconnected to the locking member. The linkage member is adapted to bepushed by the expansion card to drive the locking member to separatefrom the stopper.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the locking member has a hook, andthe stopper has a protruding portion. The hook is adapted to engage withthe protruding portion, such that the stopper is positioned at thenon-stop position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving component includes alocking member, and the locking member is slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket. One end of the locking member is partiallydisposed in the guide rail and is adapted to be pushed by the expansioncard to drive the locking member to separate from the stopper.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the other end of the locking memberhas a tongue portion adapted to block the stopper at the non-stopposition.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a first elastic member. The first elastic memberis connected between the driving component and the expansion-cardbracket. The driving component is adapted to be positioned at thestopper by the elastic force of the first elastic member.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a second elastic member. The second elasticmember is connected between the stopper and the expansion-card bracket.The stopper is adapted to move from the non-stop position to the stopposition by the elastic force of the second elastic member.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a positioning member disposed on theexpansion-card bracket and adapted to cooperate with the operatingelement.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the operating element is pivoted onthe expansion-card bracket along a pivot axis, the stopper is slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket along a sliding direction, andthe pivot axis is perpendicular to the sliding direction.

The server of the disclosure includes a chassis, an expansion card, andan expansion card installation module. The expansion card installationmodule is disposed in the chassis and is adapted to accommodate theexpansion card. The expansion card installation module includes anexpansion-card bracket, an operating element, a stopper, and a drivingcomponent. The operating element is pivoted on the expansion-cardbracket. The stopper is slidably disposed on the expansion-card bracketand is located at a stop position or a non-stop position. The stopper atthe stop position stops the expansion card in the expansion-cardbracket, and the stopper at the non-stop position releases the expansioncard, such that the expansion card is allowed to be removed from theexpansion-card bracket. The driving component is movably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket. The operating element is adapted to push thestopper to move the stopper from the stop position to the non-stopposition, and the driving component is adapted to position the stopperat the non-stop position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the operating element of theexpansion card installation module has an abutting portion, the stopperhas a protruding post, and the abutting portion is adapted to pushagainst the protruding post to move the stopper from the stop positionto the non-stop position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a guide rail, and the guide rail is disposed onthe expansion-card bracket. The guide rail is adapted to guide theexpansion card to move into the expansion-card bracket along a movingpath.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, part of the driving component of theexpansion card installation module is disposed in the guide rail andlocated on the moving path of the expansion card, and is adapted to bepushed by the expansion card.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving component of theexpansion card installation module includes a locking member and alinkage member. The locking member is slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket, and the linkage member is pivoted on theexpansion-card bracket. One end of the linkage member is disposed in theguide rail, and the other end of the linkage member is connected to thelocking member. The linkage member is adapted to be pushed by theexpansion card to drive the locking member to move away from thestopper.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving component of theexpansion card installation module includes a locking member, and thelocking member is slidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket. Oneend of the locking member is partially disposed in the guide rail and isadapted to be pushed by the expansion card to drive the locking memberto move away from the stopper.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a first elastic member, and the first elasticmember is connected between the driving component and the expansion-cardbracket. The driving component is adapted to move away from the stopperby the elastic force of the first elastic member.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule further includes a second elastic member, and the second elasticmember is connected between the stopper and the expansion-card bracket.The stopper is adapted to move from the non-stop position to the stopposition by the elastic force of the second elastic member.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the expansion card installationmodule includes a positioning member, and the positioning member isdisposed on the expansion-card bracket and is adapted to cooperate withthe operating element.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the operating element is pivoted onthe expansion-card bracket along a pivot axis, the stopper is slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket along a sliding direction, andthe pivot axis is perpendicular to the sliding direction.

Based on the above, when installing the expansion card in the expansioncard installation module and the server of the disclosure, the user onlyneeds to push the expansion card into the expansion-card bracket toswitch the state of the driving component from a locked state to anunlocked state to move the stopper from the non-stop position to thestop position to stop the expansion card, such that the expansion cardmay be stably installed in the expansion card installation module. Toremove the expansion card, the user only needs to switch the state ofthe operating element from a non-operating state to an operating state,and pull the expansion card out to remove the expansion card. In thislight, the operating element, the stopper, and the driving component maybe switched between various positions and states to securely install orremove the expansion card without the need of additional tools forinstallation and disassembly, saving the time and improving theconvenience.

To make the features and advantages of the disclosure easier to beunderstood, the following embodiments are provided and described indetail with the reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a server according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of the expansion card installation moduleand the expansion card of FIG. 1 before assembly.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of the expansion card installation moduleand the expansion card of FIG. 2A assembled.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of the operating element of FIG. 2A beingswitched from a non-operating position to an operating position.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of some components of the expansion cardinstallation module of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C are exploded views showing some components of theexpansion card installation module of FIG. 3A from differentperspectives.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C illustrate the process of installing the expansioncard of FIG. 2A to the expansion card installation module.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C illustrate the process of removing the expansion cardof FIG. 4C from the expansion card installation module.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an expansion card installation moduleaccording to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C illustrate a process of installing an expansion cardto the expansion card installation module of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C illustrate the process of removing the expansion cardof FIG. 7C from the expansion card installation module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a server according to an embodiment ofthe disclosure. In FIG. 1 , the server 10 of the disclosure includes anexpansion card installation module 100 a, an expansion card 200, and achassis 300. The expansion card installation module 100 a is disposed inthe chassis 300, and an expansion-card bracket 110 a of the expansioncard installation module 100 a is adapted to accommodate the expansioncard 200. The expansion card 200 in this embodiment is, for example, agraphics processor expansion card. In other embodiments, the expansioncard 200 may be an interface adapter board, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of the expansion card installation moduleand the expansion card of FIG. 1 before assembly. FIG. 2B is a schematicdiagram of the expansion card installation module and the expansion cardof FIG. 2A assembled. FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of the operatingelement of FIG. 2A being switched from a non-operating position to anoperating position. To show the operating element 120 clearly, someelements (e.g., the expansion card 200) are omitted in FIG. 2C. Pleaserefer to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C at the same time. The expansion card 200 ofthe present embodiment has a fixing tongue 210, and the operatingelement 120 of the expansion card installation module 100 a is in anon-operating state. To install the expansion card 200, the user onlyneeds to align the fixing tongue 210 of the expansion card 200 with theexpansion-card bracket 110 a and push it into the expansion-card bracket110 a along a moving path P1 to complete the installation of theexpansion card 200 (as shown in FIG. 2B). As shown in FIG. 2C, when theuser removes the expansion card 200, the user only needs to apply anexternal force F1 to an operating portion 126 of the operating element120 to switch the state of the operating element 120 from anon-operating state (shown in dotted lines) to an operating state (shownin solid lines) to remove the expansion card 200.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of some components of the expansion cardinstallation module of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C are exploded viewsshowing some components of the expansion card installation module ofFIG. 3A from different perspectives. Please refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3Cat the same time. FIG. 3A shows the expansion card installation module100 a when the expansion card 200 is not installed, which includes theexpansion-card bracket 110 a, the operating element 120, a stopper 130a, a driving component 140 a, and a guide rail 180. Here, the operatingelement 120 is in a non-operating state, the stopper 130 a is in anon-stop position, and the driving component 140 a is in a locked state.

Specifically, the operating element 120 of the present embodiment ispivoted on the expansion-card bracket 110 a and may be in an operatingstate or a non-operating state. The stopper 130 a is slidably disposedon the expansion-card bracket 110 a and may be located at a stopposition (as shown in FIG. 4C) or a non-stop position. The drivingcomponent 140 a is movably disposed on the expansion-card bracket 110 ato be in a locked state or an unlocked state (as shown in FIG. 4C). Theguide rail 180 is disposed on the expansion-card bracket 110 a.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the operating element 120, the stopper 130 a, thedriving component 140 a, and the guide rail 180 are disposed on a firstsurface 113 of a side wall 112 a of the expansion-card bracket 110 a.The expansion card installation module 100 a includes a plurality offasteners 150 a 1 to 150 a 4. The operating element 120 partiallyprotrudes from the side wall 112 a and is pivoted to the expansion-cardbracket 110 a along a pivot axis A1 through the fastener 150 a 1. Here,the operating element 120 rotates, with the fastener 150 a 1 as therotation center.

The side wall 112 a further includes a plurality of sliding grooves 116a 1 and 116 a 2, and the fastener 150 a 2 is connected to the stopper130 a through the sliding groove 116 a 1, and the fastener 150 a 2 mayslide in the sliding groove 116 a 1, such that the stopper 130 a isslidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket 110 a along a slidingdirection S2. In this embodiment, the pivot axis A1 is perpendicular tothe sliding direction S2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Asshown in FIG. 3A, an end 127 (shown in dotted lines) of the operatingelement 120 is accommodated in the stopper 130 a. The end 127 has anabutting portion 128, and the abutting portion 128 extends from the end127 toward the stopper 130 a. The stopper 130 a has a protruding post138, and the protruding post 138 protrudes from the stopper 130 a towardthe side wall 112 a. The protruding post 138 is adapted to be pushedagainst by the abutting portion 128. The operating element 120 in thenon-operating state releases the stopper 130 a. When the operatingelement 120 rotates along the pivot axis A1, the abutting portion 128 ofthe operating element 120 contacts and pushes the protruding post 138 todrive the stopper 130 a to slide along the sliding direction S2.

The driving component 140 a of this embodiment includes a locking member142 a and a linkage member 144. Here, the linkage member 144 is pivotedto the expansion-card bracket 110 a along another pivot axis A2 throughthe fastener 150 a 3, and the linkage member 144 rotates, with thefastener 150 a 3 as the rotation center. In this embodiment, one end ofthe linkage member 144 is disposed in the guide rail 180 while the otherend of the linkage member 144 is connected (pivoted) to the lockingmember 142 a. One end of the linkage member 144 is adapted to be pushedby the expansion card 200 (the fixing tongue 210), such that the otherend of the linkage member 144 moves in the opposite direction, and thelocking member 142 a is driven to slide along another sliding directionS1 and move away from the stopper 130 a.

The locking member 142 a is slidably disposed on the expansion-cardbracket 110 a and may be located at a locking position (as shown in FIG.4A) or an unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 4C). Here, the fastener150 a 4 is adapted to limit the locking member 142 a, such that thelocking member 142 a does not deflect or slide in other directions whenit is sliding. In short, the locking member 142 a of the drivingcomponent 140 a in this embodiment is slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket 110 a, and the linkage member 144 of the drivingcomponent 140 a is pivoted on the expansion-card bracket 110 a.

In addition, one end of the locking member 142 a in this embodiment hasa hook 146, and one end of the stopper 130 a has a protruding portion136 protruding in a direction away from the side wall 112 a. When thelocking member 142 a is located at the locking position, the hook 146 isengaged with the protruding portion 136 to position the stopper 130 a atthe non-stop position. In other words, the driving component 140 a inthe locked state (i.e., the locking member 142 a in the locked position)locks the stopper 130 a at the non-stop position. In this light, thedriving component 140 a is adapted to position the stopper 130 a at thenon-stop position.

The guide rail 180 of this embodiment is adapted to guide the fixingtongue 210 of the expansion card 200 to move into the expansion-cardbracket 110 a along a moving path P1 (as shown in FIG. 2A), and part ofthe driving component 140 a (i.e., one end of the linkage member 144) isdisposed in the guide rail 180 and located on the moving path P1 of theexpansion card 200 and is adapted to be pushed by the expansion card200.

As shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, the expansion card installation module100 a of this embodiment includes a positioning member 190. Thepositioning member 190 is disposed on a second surface 114 of the sidewall 112 a of the expansion-card bracket 110 a and cooperates with theoperating element 120. The positioning member 190 may be an elasticmember, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Specifically, aprotrusion 192 of the positioning member 190 passes through the slidinggroove 116 a 2 of the side wall 112 a. As shown in FIG. 3A, when theoperating element 120 is in a non-operating state, the protrusion 192abuts on a side of the operating element 120 to keep the operatingelement 120 in the non-operating state. When the user applies anexternal force F1 (as shown in FIG. 2C) to the operating portion 126 ofthe operating element 120, the operating element 120 pushes theprotrusion 192 to deform the positioning member 190 slightly until theoperating element 120 is in the operating state (as shown in FIG. 5A) toengage the protrusion 192 with a hole 122 of the operating element 120to keep the operating element 120 in an operating state. In this light,the positioning member 190 is adapted to position the operating element120 in the operating state or the non-operating state, and the operatingelement 120 is adapted to resist the elastic force of the positioningmember 190 to be released from the operating state or the non-operatingstate.

In FIG. 3A again, the expansion card installation module of thisembodiment further includes a first elastic member 160 and a secondelastic member 170. The first elastic member 160 is connected betweenthe driving component 140 a and the expansion-card bracket 110 a, andmore specifically, the first elastic member 160 is connected between thelocking member 142 a and the expansion-card bracket 110 a. The secondelastic member 170 is connected between the stopper 130 a and theexpansion-card bracket 110 a. When the expansion card 200 is notinstalled, the first elastic member 170 is not deformed, and the secondelastic member 170 is deformed and accumulates elastic force.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C illustrate the process of installing the expansioncard of FIG. 2A to the expansion card installation module. Please referto FIG. 2A and FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C at the same time. When the stopper 130a is at the non-stop position, the fixing tongue 210 of the expansioncard 200 passes through a recess 132 of the stopper 130 a and movesalong the moving path P1 from the outside of the expansion-card bracket110 a to the inside of the expansion-card bracket 110 a, so as to switchthe state of the driving component 140 a from the locked state (as shownin FIG. 4A) to the unlocked state (as shown in FIG. 4C). Specifically,the fixing tongue 210 passes through the recess 132 and moves into theguide rail 180, and abuts one end of the linkage member 144. As shown inFIG. 4B, the fixing tongue 210 moves and is positioned on the guide rail180, and one end of the linkage member 144 is pushed by the fixingtongue 210, such that the linkage member 144 may rotate. In addition,FIG. 4A further includes a partially enlarged view, shown in athree-dimensional perspective. As shown in the enlarged view, the partof the operating element 120 accommodated in the stopper 130 a and thefixing tongue 210 avoid and not interfere with each other.

When the linkage member 144 rotates, the other end of the linkage member144 drives the locking member 142 a to slide to the unlocked positionalong the sliding direction S1, and the first elastic member 160 deformsto accumulate the elastic force. The hook 146 of the locking member 142a is away from the protruding portion 136 of the stopper 130. As shownin FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, the driving component 140 a in the unlockedstate (i.e., the locking member 142 a in the unlocked position) releasesthe stopper 130 a, such that the stopper 130 a may move from thenon-stop position (as shown in FIG. 4A) to the stop position by theelastic force of the second elastic member 170. In other words, thelinkage member 144 is adapted to be pushed by the expansion card 200 todrive the locking member 142 a to separate from the stopper 130 a.Meanwhile, the second elastic member 170 is not deformed, and the recess132 of the stopper 130 and the fixing tongue 210 in the way of eachother, such that the fixing tongue 210 cannot pass through the recess132 again to exit the expansion-card bracket 110 a. In other words, thestopper 130 a at the stop position is adapted to stop the expansion card200 in the expansion-card bracket 110 a, such that the expansion card200 cannot be removed from the expansion-card bracket 110 a.

As described above, when the expansion card 200 is disposed in theexpansion-card bracket 110 a, the operating element 120 is in thenon-operating state, the stopper 130 a is at the stop position, thedriving component 140 a is in the non-locking state, the first elasticmember 160 is deformed and accumulates elastic force, and the secondelastic member 160 is not deformed, the expansion card 200 may be stablyinstalled on the expansion-card bracket 110 a.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C illustrate the process of removing the expansion cardof FIG. 4C from the expansion card installation module. Please refer toFIG. 2C and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C at the same time. When the user wants toremove the expansion card 200 (the fixing tongue 210), the user onlyneeds to apply an external force F1 to the operating portion 126 of theoperating element 120 to switch the state of the operating element 120from the non-operating state to the operating state (as shown in FIG.2C). As shown in FIG. 5A, when the operating element 120 is switched tothe operating state, the abutting portion 128 of the operating element120 is adapted to contact and push against the protruding post 138, suchthat the stopper 130 a slides from the stop position along the slidingdirection S2 to the non-stop block position. In other words, theoperating element 120 is adapted to push against the stopper 130 a tomove the stopper 130 a from the stop position to the non-stop position.

The hole 122 of the operating element 120 in the operating state isengaged with the protrusion 192 of the positioning member 190 to keepthe operating element 120 in the operating state and limit the stopper130 a to the non-stop position. The recess 132 of the stopper 130 a isaligned with the fixing tongue 210, and the fixing tongue 210 may exitthe expansion-card bracket 110 a through the recess 132. In other words,the stopper 130 a at the non-stop position is adapted to release theexpansion card 200 (the fixing tongue 210), such that the expansion card200 is allowed to be removed from the expansion-card bracket 110 a.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the fixing tongue 210 of the expansion card 200moves from the inside of the expansion-card bracket 110 a to the outsideof the expansion-card bracket 110 a along the moving path P1. At thistime, the fixing tongue 210 no longer abuts against the linkage member144, and the linkage member 144 rotates in a clockwise direction to bereset. The locking member 142 a of the driving component 140 a is drivenby the elastic force of the first elastic member 160 and the linkagemember 144 to slide from the unlocked position to the locking positionalong the sliding direction S1, and the hook 146 of the locking member142 a is engaged with the protruding portion 136 of the stopper 130 a tolock the stopper 130 a at the non-stop position.

The operating element 120 of this embodiment is further provided with apushing portion 124. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the operatingelement 120 is in the operating state, the pushing portion 124 ispositioned on the moving path P1 of the fixing tongue 210. Therefore,when the fixing tongue 210 moves out of the expansion-card bracket 110a, the fixing tongue 210 contacts and pushes the pushing portion 124. Asshown in FIG. 5C, when the fixing tongue 210 completely withdraws fromthe guide rail 180, the pushing portion 124 is pushed by the fixingtongue 210 to switch the state of the operating element 120 from theoperating state to the non-operating state. In other words, after theexpansion card 200 is removed from the expansion-card bracket 110 a, theexpansion card installation module 100 a automatically returns to thestate shown in FIG. 5C (or as shown in FIG. 4A) where there is noexpansion card 200 installed, so as to facilitate the next installationof the expansion card 200.

As described above, when installing the expansion card 200, the useronly needs to insert the expansion card 200 without the need to operatethe expansion card installation module 100 a. When removing theexpansion card 200, the user only needs to press the operating element120 and pull out the expansion card 200. As the expansion card 200 ismoved out of the expansion-card bracket 110 a, the state of theoperating element 120 is pushed and switched from the operating state tothe non-operating state.

In this way, the expansion card installation module 100 a of the presentembodiment may have the functions of tool-free installation and removalof the expansion card 200, and the function of automatically resettingthe expansion card installation module 100 a, which reduces the user'soperation steps and improve the convenience thereof, and it istime-saving and convenient.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an expansion card installation moduleaccording to another embodiment of the disclosure. The expansion cardinstallation module 100 b of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similarto that in the previous embodiment, and their difference is that thedriving component 140 b of the expansion card installation module 100 bof this embodiment includes a locking member 142 b. Here, the drivingcomponent 140 b of this embodiment may be regarded as the locking member142 b. The locking member 142 b (the driving component 140 b) isslidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket 110 b through thefastener 150 b 4. One end of the locking member 142 b is partiallydisposed in the guide rail 180 and on the moving path P1 (as shown inFIG. 7A) of the fixing tongue 210, such that one end of the lockingmember 142 b may be pushed by the expansion card 200 to drive thelocking member 142 b to separate from the stopper 130 b (that is, thelocking member 142 b moves away from the stopper 130 b). In addition,the other end of the locking member 142 b has a tongue portion 142 b 1extending toward the stopper member 130 b, and the tongue portion 142 b1 is adapted to stop the stopper member 130 b in a non-stop position.When the expansion card 200 is not installed, the tongue portion 142 b 1of the locking member 142 b in this embodiment locks the stopper 130 b,and limits the stopper 130 b at the non-stop position.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C illustrate a process of installing an expansion cardto the expansion card installation module of FIG. 6 . Please refer toFIG. 7A to FIG. 7C at the same time. The fixing tongue 210 enters theguide rail 180 and pushes against part of the locking member 142 b (thedriving component 140 b). Compared with the locking member 142 a of theprevious embodiment, the locking member 142 b of the present embodimentis directly pushed by the fixing tongue 210 to move from the lockingposition to the unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 7C). The lockingmember 142 b in the unlocked position releases the stopper 130 b, suchthat the stopper 130 b slides from the non-stop position to the stopposition (as shown in FIG. 7C) to stop the fixing tongue 210.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C illustrate the process of removing the expansion cardof FIG. 7C from the expansion card installation module. Please refer toFIG. 7C and FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C at the same time. The removal process ofthe expansion card 200 in this embodiment is similar to that in theprevious embodiment, and thus the same details are not repeated herein.It is worth mentioning that, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the operatingelement 120 is in the operating state and the fixing tongue 210 is awayfrom the locking member 142 b, the state of the driving component 140 a(the locking member 142 b) is switched from the unlocking state to thelocking state by the elastic force of the first elastic member 160, andthe tongue portion 142 b 1 of the locking member 142 b locks the stopper130 b to limit the stopper 130 b at the non-stop position.

Note that when the operating element 120 is in the operating state andthe locking member 142 b is in the locking position, from theperspective shown in FIG. 8B, the right end of the operating element 120and the tongue portion 142 b 1 of the locking member 142 b overlap eachother, but in fact they do not interfere with each other. Specifically,as shown in the partially enlarged area in the stereoscopic view in FIG.8B, the part where the locking member 142 b is accommodated in thestopper 130 b and the part where the operating element 120 isaccommodated in the stopper 130 b actually avoid and not interfere witheach other. Therefore, when the operating element 120 is pushed by thefixing tongue 210 and returns to the non-operating state (as shown inFIG. 8C), the position of the stopper 130 b and the locking member 142 bare not changed thereby.

To sum up, before the expansion card installation module and the serverof the disclosure are installed with an expansion card, the operatingelement is in a non-operating state, the driving component is in alocked state, the stopper is located in a non-stop position, and thedriving component locks the stopper. When an expansion card is installedthereto, the expansion card is pushed into the expansion-card bracket,switching the state of the driving component from the locked state tothe unlocked state to unlock the stopper, such that the stopper may movefrom the non-stop position to the stop position to stop the expansioncard, and secure the expansion card in the expansion card installationmodule. When removing the expansion card, the user only needs to switchthe state of the operating element from the non-operating state to theoperating state to remove the expansion card, and the elements of theexpansion card installation module (such as the operating element, thestopper, and the driving component) may be automatically reset andreturn to the state before the instalment of the expansion card, so asto facilitate the next installation of the expansion card. In thislight, an expansion card may be installed to and removed from theexpansion card installation module of the disclosure without usingadditional tools, which saves time and improves the convenience thereof.

Although the disclosure has been disclosed above with embodiments, theyare not intended to limit the disclosure. Anyone with ordinary knowledgein the art can make changes and modifications without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. The protection scope of thedisclosure shall be determined by the claims attached.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expansion card installation module, adapted toaccommodate an expansion card, the expansion card installation modulecomprising: an expansion-card bracket; an operating element pivoted onthe expansion-card bracket; a stopper slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket and located at a stop position or a non-stopposition, wherein the stopper at the stop position stops the expansioncard in the expansion-card bracket, and the stopper at the non-stopposition releases the expansion card, such that the expansion card isallowed to be removed from the expansion-card bracket; a drivingcomponent movably disposed on the expansion-card bracket; and a guiderail disposed on the expansion-card bracket and adapted to guide theexpansion card to move into the expansion-card bracket along a movingpath; wherein the operating element is adapted to push against thestopper to move the stopper from the stop position to the non-stopposition, and the driving component is adapted to position the stopperat the non-stop position, wherein part of the driving component isdisposed in the guide rail and located on the moving path of theexpansion card, and the part of the driving component is adapted to bepushed by the expansion card.
 2. The expansion card installation moduleas claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating element has an abuttingportion, the stopper has a protruding post, and the abutting portion isadapted to push against the protruding post to move the stopper from thestop position to the non-stop position.
 3. The expansion cardinstallation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving componentcomprises a locking member and a linkage member, the locking member isslidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket, the linkage member ispivoted on the expansion-card bracket, one end of the linkage member isdisposed in the guide rail, and an another end of the linkage member isconnected to the locking member, and the linkage member is adapted to bepushed by the expansion card to drive the locking member to separatefrom the stopper.
 4. The expansion card installation module as claimedin claim 3, wherein the locking member has a hook, the stopper has aprotruding portion, and the hook is adapted to engage with theprotruding portion, such that the stopper is positioned at the non-stopposition.
 5. The expansion card installation module as claimed in claim1, wherein the driving component comprises a locking member, the lockingmember is slidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket, one end ofthe locking member is partially disposed in the guide rail and isadapted to be pushed by the expansion card to drive the locking memberto separate from the stopper.
 6. The expansion card installation moduleas claimed in claim 5, wherein an another end of the locking member hasa tongue portion adapted to block the stopper at the non-stop position.7. The expansion card installation module as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: a first elastic member, wherein the first elastic member isconnected between the driving component and the expansion-card bracket,and the driving component is adapted to be positioned at the stopper byan elastic force of the first elastic member; and a second elasticmember, wherein the second elastic member is connected between thestopper and the expansion-card bracket, and the stopper is adapted tomove from the non-stop position to the stop position by an elastic forceof the second elastic member.
 8. The expansion card installation moduleas claimed in claim 1, further comprising a positioning member disposedon the expansion-card bracket and adapted to cooperate with theoperating element.
 9. The expansion card installation module as claimedin claim 1, wherein the operating element is pivoted on theexpansion-card bracket along a pivot axis, the stopper is slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket along a sliding direction, andthe pivot axis is perpendicular to the sliding direction.
 10. A server,comprising: a chassis; an expansion card; and an expansion cardinstallation module, disposed in the chassis and adapted to accommodatethe expansion card, comprising: an expansion-card bracket; an operatingelement, pivoted on the expansion-card bracket; a stopper, slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket and located at a stop position ora non-stop position, wherein the stopper at the stop position stops theexpansion card in the expansion-card bracket, and the stopper at thenon-stop position releases the expansion card, such that the expansioncard is allowed to be removed from the expansion-card bracket; a drivingcomponent, movably disposed on the expansion-card bracket; and a guiderail disposed on the expansion-card bracket and adapted to guide theexpansion card to move into the expansion-card bracket along a movingpath, wherein the operating element is adapted to push against thestopper to move the stopper from the stop position to the non-stopposition, and the driving component is adapted to position the stopperat the non-stop position, wherein part of the driving component of theexpansion card installation module is disposed in the guide rail andlocated on the moving path of the expansion card and is adapted to bepushed by the expansion card.
 11. The server as claimed in claim 10,wherein the operating element has an abutting portion, the stopper has aprotruding post, and the abutting portion is adapted to push against theprotruding post to move the stopper from the stop position to thenon-stop position.
 12. The server as claimed in claim 10, wherein thedriving component of the expansion card installation module comprises alocking member and a linkage member, the locking member is slidablydisposed on the expansion-card bracket, the linkage member is pivoted onthe expansion-card bracket, one end of the linkage member is disposed inthe guide rail, and an another end of the linkage member is connected tothe locking member, and the linkage member is adapted to be pushed bythe expansion card to drive the locking member to move away the stopper.13. The server as claimed in claim 10, wherein the driving component ofthe expansion card installation module comprises a locking member, thelocking member is slidably disposed on the expansion-card bracket, oneend of the locking member is partially disposed in the guide rail and isadapted to be pushed by the expansion card to drive the locking memberto move away from the stopper.
 14. The server as claimed in claim 10,wherein the expansion card installation module further comprises: afirst elastic member, wherein the first elastic member is connectedbetween the driving component and the expansion-card bracket, and thedriving component is adapted to move away from the stopper by an elasticforce of the first elastic member; and a second elastic member, thesecond elastic member is connected between the stopper and theexpansion-card bracket, and the stopper is adapted to move from thenon-stop position to the stop position by an elastic force of the secondelastic member.
 15. The server as claimed in claim 10, wherein theexpansion card installation module further comprises a positioningmember disposed on the expansion-card bracket and adapted to cooperatewith the operating element.
 16. The server as claimed in claim 10,wherein the operating element is pivoted on the expansion-card bracketalong a pivot axis, the stopper is slidably disposed on theexpansion-card bracket along a sliding direction, and the pivot axis isperpendicular to the sliding direction.